Hall Place and Gardens, has been awarded a grant of £64,400 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).

Money raised by National Lottery players will enable the popular Bexley attraction to develop ways to maximise business opportunities, as well as vital investment into the Grade 1 listed Tudor house and gardens.

The Dino Live exhibition, held recently in the Great Hall, attracted more than 12,500 visitors during its run, many of whom were coming to Hall Place for the first time, and this spring and summer will see another exciting exhibition in the form of Brick City.

Opening on March 30, the Brick City LEGO display promises architectural landmarks from around the world made entirely from the famous bricks.

Before then, there is still time to catch The Last Curtsey, an exhibition on the life of a debutante.

Cllr Peter Craske, cabinet member for community safety, environment and leisure, said: “This is great news.

“This funding will help us to continue to engage with the fascinating history of the house, as well as think about new developments to expand the use of the house and garden.

“Hall Place is going through such an exciting period of change.

“Since Bexley took over the management of the site in April 2017, the house has gained a new lease of life, with a packed schedule of new events and activities.

“Thanks to extra investment, the gardens are now looking better than ever, helping the grounds to once again achieve the prestigious Green Flag award at the end of last year.”

Throughout the summer, there will be a host of events making the most of the surroundings.

Cllr Peter Craske added: “It is also a key part of the borough’s wider cultural agenda.

“Hall Place, together with other local gems such as Danson House, Lesnes Abbey, Crossness and the Carnegie Building, is central to our recent bid to become the first London Borough of Culture.”

Having a brand new kitchen is something that lots of people want but can only dream of. Sadly keeping up to date and making our living spaces as nice as they can be is a costly and incredibly stressful business. Even a fresh coat of paint makes all the difference but isn’t easy or quick.